The Shifting Sands

Andrea and I had plotted to catch the Alibaug Ferry from Mumbai and then ride our bikes to Janjira Fort near Murud and back.  I had kayaked most of this section of coast last year and I was looking forward to covering the same section on the bike. However, i t was one of those days when nothing seemed to go right. Andrea unloading from the ferry We were told by the Ferry company that the first ferry was scheduled for 6.00 am so Andrea and I met in Bandra at 5.10 am and waited for my driver who was 20 min late. We then raced south arriving at the ticket office a little before 6.00 am only to find the shutters down. We were then told that the first ferry was at 6.15 am.  The shutters opened at little after 6.15 am and we purchased our ticket. We then queued above the ferry watching the crew go about their morning routine.  They started by washing themselves in typical Indian fashion with boxer shorts on to maintain modesty. Next was their their clothes follow...

The last of the streams On our previous ride we entered Tungeshwar National Park from the east and were turned back by time and gradient.  We committed to come back so two weekends ago a larger group of us met at the park entry on the western side. All this only an hour from Bandra The road was great, a few creek fords and a steady climb to start which gave way to steeper sections.  The track was wet from recent rainfall and this added some spice to the ride.  There were rock sections and muddy sections which all made it great fun. The track showing signs of the overnight rain I had limited time so I turned around when the serious climbing was done after 90 minutes while the others headed for tea at the Ashram near the summit.  A nice 30 minute descent saw me back in the car park. and I was in Bandra an hour later An accidental photo! Next time we will head over the summit and do...

How many rafts can you fit on an auto rickshaw No its not a Cohen Brothers film and there is no psychotic bolt gun wielding assassin. However the pre-production for this epic was longer than most Hollywood blockbusters.  For each of the previous three monsoons, I had called the rafting companies that ply their trade on the Kundalika River, a dam fed river that runs through Kolad which is about 150km south of Mumbai. Despite my obvious desperation and an accent that would indicate that I had some money to spend, they showed little interest in guiding me. This year I tried again without holding out too much hope but I was pleasantly surprise to get a return call from the first company that I had contacted.  They seemed to be will to provide a guide and I had an even bigger bonus in that Brendon, a Kiwi teacher from the American School, was keen to come along. We were a little apprehensive.  Both Brendon and I fall into the "mature" demographic and I h...

Writing  a post about super foods in India is like talking in the native tongue...there are 22 official languages and almost 400 living languages!  But there are certain foods that are becoming more readily available and are not cost prohibitive that are worthy of special mention. A superfood has to be nutrient dense, readily (seasonably)  available, cleanly produced and singular...not a combination food...so it can be eaten on its own, on the run, or added to other foods to create a healthier choice. I love the idea of super foods and I know Ayurvedic principals have hundreds of ancient and nature available foods and food combinations that sit within the western understanding of super foods. For BREAKFAST right now one cannot go past a Spray Free Alphonso Mango.  Finding Organic in India, truly organic, is not easy, but there are many farmers and co-operatives that manage chemical free ...